More than 25 industrial, productive and export firms from Sharjah took part in the forum, which brought together high-profile guests like government officials, businessmen and investors.

The Forum which was arrangeg by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, appeared by the Sharjah Exports Development Centre, SEDC, was held during the SEDC’s three-day visit to Uganda, following its first stop in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The SEDC’s visits to Kenyan and Uganda come as part of its fifth trade mission to East of Africa.

Headed by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, SCCI’s Chairman, the trade mission held bilateral and business meetings with Ugandan counterparts to further build up relationship with the Ugandan business community.

He talked about with Ugandan officials ways of fostering the UAE-Uganda business relations and how to improve trade exchange. They also discussed mechanisms of starting new investment partnerships between Ugandan and Sharjah.

Addressing the forum, Al Owais stressed that the UAE and Uganda share deeply rooted relations, and that the trade mission to Uganda comes to increase Sharjah’s presence in Africa’s most promising markets.

Al Owais said, “We are ready to grow the volume of trade exchange, economic and investment cooperation with Uganda. We look forward to open up new horizons for collaboration between both sides’ businessmen, investors and companies.”

“The trade missions from and to both countries have played a remarkable role in pushing our economic ties forwards and contributed largely to enlarging our trade exchange. The UAE today is the third largest exporter to Uganda with exports worth $1.270 billion, while Ugandan exports to the UAE amounted to $428 million", He further added.

Speaking on behalf of Uganda’s Vice President, Alex Onzima praised the UAE and Sharjah’s efforts made to strengthen ties with Uganda, adding that trade missions exchanged over the past years have yielded many positive outcomes, including increasing the number of Ugandan workforces in the UAE, which reflected positively on the Ugandan economy.

Olive Kigongo said, “Uganda is very contented to welcome Emirati businessmen and investors as they are committed to offering them incentives and facilities that serve both sides interests.”

Al Owais received a number of trophies from many Ugandan official bodies, in acknowledgement of Sharjah Chamber’s constant keenness to dispatch trade missions and encourage relations with East of Africa.